SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY

TIME

YEAR B

Fr. Anselm Eke, MSP

Pastor

Parish Center Office:

122 E. 5th St. - Hoisington, KS 67544 (620) 653-2963

Rectory:

108 E. 5th St.—Hoisington, KS 67544 (620) 653-2695

Parish Contact Information:

620-653-2963 or 620-653-2695

Email: stjohnevangelist122@gmail.com

For Religious Education:

stjohn.dre.544@gmail.com

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday—Thursday, 9:00am—12:00pm and 1:00pm—4:00pm Fridays: 8:00am—2:00pm

Bulletin Announcements: Due by noon on Wednesday. May be submitted by email at the above address

Parish Secretary: Loretta Kinman

Director of Religious Education: Rose Debes (Hoisington); Lisa Starr (Olmitz)

Pastoral Council Pres.: Stephen Debes (Hoisington); Bob Schneider (Olmitz)

Weekend Masses: *Saturday, 5:00pm (Hoisington) *Sunday, 9:00am (Hoisington) *10:30am (Olmitz)

Sacrament of Penance: 4:15pm—4:45pm on Saturdays (Hoisington)

Second Sunday of the Month after Mass until Noon (Olmitz)

Reconciliation is also available by appointment.

Sacrament of Baptism: Call rectory to schedule an appointment for the Baptismal preparations.

Sacrament of Marriage: Contact the pastor 4 to 6 months prior to proposed date of marriage.

Sacrament of Sick: Call rectory in case of emergency or prior to medical procedures or hospital stay

PRAYER NETWORK: To call your prayer intention in for Hoisington, you may call Nancy Kirmer at 653-2466 and

for Olmitz, call Martina Axman at 620-586-3281.

February 14th,

2021

St. John the Evangelist Parish St. Ann Parish

Olmitz, KS

Website: stjohnevangelistparish.com

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES: There will be no Classes on Wednesday, Feb. 17th as students are to

attend the 7:30pm Ash Wednesday Mass.

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING FOR 5th/6th GRADE STUDENTS: Altar Servers training will take

place on February 24 from 5:30—6:30. All 5th graders who are interested in serving should attend. 6th Graders who would like a

review are also encouraged to attend. Final training will take place on March 10th and 24th from 7:00—8:00pm. All 5th AND 6th

graders who would like to serve need to attend on these two final training dates.

ROSARY BEFORE MASS: We will be praying the Rosary at 8:30am on Sunday mornings before the 9:00am Mass.

Please join us if you can.

ALTAR SOCIETY DUES: St. John’s Altar Society dues for 2021 are now due. (We would like to ask you to please pay

them via the collection basket or the mail and not on-line.) Thank you so much to the 75 ladies who have already paid their dues.

MEETINGS:

ST. JOHN’S FINANCE COUNCIL ……….will meet on Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.

ST. JOHN’S PASTORAL COUNCIL …….will meet on Thursday, February 25th at 6:30pm in the Parish Center.

PRAYERS and SYMPATHY: St. John’s Parish extends our deepest sympathy to Teresa Dolechek and

Roberta Prosser at the loss of their sister , Marie Hoss. Prayers & sympathy also go out to Laurie,

Mike, Cole & Nolan McCurry at the loss of Laur ie’s mother, Sara Reed of Great Bend, who passed away

Feb. 7th. Please keep Marie & Sara and all their families in your prayers and may they and all the faithful

departed rest in peace. +

FIND IT ON FORMED: St. John's would like to invite you to explore Formed.org this year! Each week we will high-

light a different resource available on the website. If you would like help creating an account, please contact Rose De-

bes at stjohndre544@gmail.com or 785-259-3779. Accounts are free with our parish subscription and easy to set up!

To find the resource after logging in, simply click on the word "Search" at the top of the page and type in the title. If

you are using the app on your phone, use the search button on the bottom of the screen.

Watch: Beloved-Session 1: Does Marriage Matter?: Happy Feast of St. Valentine! This Valentine’s Day, remind your-

self of the beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage with the Beloved series.

Learn: Formed Now! How to Study the Bible: Are you looking to take your spiritual life deeper this

Lent? There’s no better place to start than the Lord’s Word. Join Dr. Gray and Dr. Giszczak as they explain how to

study and devote yourself to Scripture!

Listen: My Beloved Son: Meditations for Lent by Bishop Robert Barron: Lent is a season of discipline where

we focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In five riveting homilies, join Bishop Barron as he describes the spiritual

disciplines we undertake during Lent.

HELP APPRECIATED! Anyone wishing to help with snow removal on the parish grounds are more than welcome to help.

All help is appreciated!

RURAL LIFE SEMINAR, Saturday, March 13, 2021, Salina, KS at 10:00am at the Hall of Bishops at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Registra-

tion is open Feb. 1st—March 9th. Go to: salinadiocese.org/office/rural-life. Or call Art Befort 785-282-4732 or Justine Dlabal at 785-658-

2240. Cost is a free will offering at registration. Includes Lunch. More info later.

When pay-

ing for a Mass intention, all

checks should be made out

s Stipend Fund.

s

JOIN US FOR PRAYER: Everyone is invited to

gather in the church to pray together for these intentions: 1)

To Stop Abortion and 2) To bring God back into our culture

so we can show mercy and love to each other. We will pray

from 9:00am—10:00am on Friday mornings.

ON-LINE GIVING: To sign up for on-line

giving, go to our website and click on the link. If

you have any trouble signing up, you may call

866-307-7140 for help.

Hoisington Mass Schedule for Feb. 16th—Feb. 21st:

Tuesday, Feb. 16th 10:00am NO MASS

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17th 12:15pm Ash Wed. Service only, No Mass

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17th 7:00pm Ash Wed. Service only, No Mass

Thursday, Feb. 18th 10:00am NO MASS

Friday, Feb. 19th 10:00am NO MASS

Saturday, Feb. 20th 5:00pm +Jerry Morgenstern

Sunday, Feb. 21st 9:00am People/Needs of St. Ann & St. John’s Parishes

Hoisington Ministers For Next Weekend:

5:00pm Saturday 9:00am Sunday

OLMITZ MASS SCHEDULE Feb. 17th—Feb. 21st:

ASH WED. Feb. 17th 6:00pm Service only

Sun., Feb. 21st 10:30am +Ervin Schneider

MINISTERS for Next Weekend: Volunteers

OLMITZ NOTES:

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Class will

be Feb. 14th & 21st at 9:15. Feb. 14th will

be Middle School Youth Mass.

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET and ROSARY:

We will pray this on Sunday mornings at 10:05am

before Mass. All are welcome!!!

SUPPORT IS NEEDED: St. Ann’s Olmitz Parish

needs your support for recent upkeep and repair work done to

help preserve our church and school buildings. Cost is ap-

proximately $30,000.00 for these various expenses including

roof & gutter maintenance, water damage repairs and cleanup

on the interior and exterior of both buildings. If you would

like to make a charitable donation towards these expenses,

please make a check payable to St. Ann’s

Church. Thank you or your support.

2020 CONTRIBUTION RECAPS: If you would like a 2020 Contribution recap,

please let Linda Bahr know and she can get

that for you.

OLMITZ K-of-C MEETING: We will be meeting at

7:00pm on Thursday, February 18th at the 2100 Club.

ST. ANN’S ALTAR SOCIETY is accepting applica-

tions for their scholarship that is open to St. Ann’s parishion-

ers’ children who are preparing to enter study at a level of

higher education within the next calendar year. The $300.00

scholarship will be awarded annually in May. All applica-

tions must be received by Stephanie Schneider with St. Ann’s

Altar Society no later than March 31. Contact steph-

schneder31@gmail to request preferred electronic application

or for any questions. Paper applications may be found in the

back of church.

The History of Icons (Part 1 of 3)

Church tradition teaches that the first iconographer was Saint Luke the Evangelist. He painted the holy image of the Virgin Mary on a panel, a face which he himself had seen. He brought his first icons to the Mother of God herself, who approved them and proclaimed: "May the grace of Him Who was born of me, through me, be impart-ed to these icons." There are at least five highly-venerated icons of the Virgin painted by Saint Luke which are still venerated today. He is also known to have painted icons of Saints Peter and Paul. The beginnings of icono-

graphy can also be found in the catacomb paintings of the second and third centuries. Iconography was given special attention and favor by the early Byzantine Empire. The emperor Constantine the Great

relieved of all taxation the artists who made the mosaics for the churches. Iconography flourished through the Empire, as mosa-ics, wall paintings (frescoes), and panel (portable) icons. It became most fully developed and widely spread in the Empire in the sixth century, under the rule of Justianian the Great.

It was the custom of Saint John Chrysostom to keep an icon of Saint Paul before him whenever he studied the Epistles of Saint Paul, for inspiration and to invoke the Apostle's blessing. As another Church Father, Saint Basil the Great, said, "With a soundless voice the icons teach those who behold them." Once when Saint John looked up from the text, the icon of Saint Paul seemed to come alive and the Apostle spoke to him.

Iconography, as an integral part of Christian life, was subject to great controversy in the seventh and eighth centuries. The Iconoclasts ("icon-smashers") were suspicious of any sacred art which represented human beings or God, and demanded the destruction of icons. The Iconodules (venerators of icons) vigorously defended the place of icons in the life of the Church. Iconoclasm may have been influenced by Jewish and Moslem ideas, and also reflected a "puritan" outlook in Christianity which saw in all images a latent idolatry.

The Iconodule position was upheld by the Seventh and last Ecumenical Council, which met in Nicaea in 787 A.D. Anoth-er attack on icons by the Emperor Leo III during the next century was overturned when the Empress Theodora permanently rein-stated the veneration of icons in 843, a victory which is commemorated as "the Triumph of Orthodoxy."

One of the chief champions of icons during this period was Saint John of Damascus, who wrote in his famous "Defense of Icons": "Through the icons of Christ we contemplate His bodily form, His miracles, and His sufferings, and we are sancti-fied...The icons of the Saints are filled with the Holy Spirit."

After the fall of Constantinople, the Holy Mountain of Athos became a great center of iconography. The many monastic churches that can be seen at Mount Athos today are testimony of a centuries-long tradition that flowered at the hands of the monks who preserved it. The Byzantine tradition of iconography also was emulated by the Serbian and Russian Christians, whose styles of iconography have undergone their own evolution over the centuries. Although many of us associate iconography with the Church of the East, it is also the original tradition of sacred art in the West-ern Church. Mosaics, frescoes, and paintings in Rome, Spain, and France bear witness that the Byzantine style was the artistic tradition common to both Western and Eastern Christianity up to the twelfth century.

*Taken from monestaryicons.com

Ushers: Richard Neidhart Lectors: Wally & Jim Schneweis

Collection for Last Week: 28 Envelopes………..…..$ 1,450.00 Offertory …………….....$ 771.00

On-line giving…………..$ 485.45 TOTAL: ……………....$ 2,706.45

Total Window Project Donations to Date: $ 8,490.00

COUNTERS:

Leonard & Linda Moeder

(Please wear masks)

OLMITZ COLLECTION FOR LAST WEEKEND: 24 Envelopes…………….$ 963.00 Offertory…………………$ 65.75 Votive Stand……………..$ 28.00 Votives…………………..$ 60.00

TOTAL: …………...…...$ 1,116.75

Church/School Repairs Donations: $100.00

Total Donations as of 2/7/21: $ 9,097.46

READINGS THIS

WEEKEND # 944 READINGS THIS WEEKEND: # 944

Readings for the day: catholicreadings.org

POSITION OPEN: After 17 years, St. Joseph Catholic School in

Ellinwood, KS, is seeking a teaching principal for our K-8 program. In

addition to the leadership role, the position includes teaching at the middle

school level. The qualified candidates should be a practicing Catholic with

teaching experience. Founded in 1885, with an enrollment of approximate-

ly 80 students, the school employs five other full-time teachers. This

school leader reports directly to the pastor and works in consultation with

an advisory school council & the diocesan superintendent of schools. Ap-

plications should include a cover letter specific to the position addressed to

the Saint Joseph School Search Committee, a current resume, a personal

statement of educational philosophy, and three references. These confiden-

tial materials should be mailed to Jamie Komarek, school secretary, St.

Joseph School—111 W. 3rd St.—Ellinwood, KS 67526. Preference will

be given to applications received before March 15th. Salary would be com-

mensurate with experience and education level. Compensation includes but

is not limited to salary, medical benefits, and pension plan. A full job de-

scription can be accessed through the school website:

https://stjosephellinwood.com/school

LENTEN OFFERINGS @ HEARTLAND CENTER: Light for the Christian Journey: Selected Writings on Christian Belief

& Practice by Philip St. Romain. Thursdays, Feb. 25th and March 4,

11, 18 and 25 from 12:10—12:55CST via Zoom, fee is $25.00. Deepen

your faith & spiritual practice this Lent with this resource for deepening

faith & spiritual practice. You’ll receive a PDF copy if you register. Reg-

ister at https://heartlandspirituality.org/online-book-studies/

A MORNING OF PRAYER & REFLECTION: Saturday, Feb. 27,

2021, 9am—12:00pm presented by Sr. Francine Schwarzenberger, Marcia

Berchek, Philip St. Romain Cost $35.00. Lent is considered a penitential

season in the Church, meaning that it is a time when we undertake disci-

plines that can help us grow closer to God and one another in love.

Through times of prayer, silent reflection, and sharing, we will come to a

deeper sense of how God is calling each of us to “let go” of obstacles to

loving, and “let God” in our lives. The traditional Lenten practices for

doing so are prayer, fasting and almsgiving, or acts of charity, and our three

presenters will each focus on one of these emphases. To register visit:

https://heartlandspirituality.org/programs’lenten-retreat/

PRAYERS FOR FR. EKE: Please keep Fr.

Eke in your prayers as he recovers from Covid. Due

to this, there will be no weekday Masses February

15—19th. There will be an Ash Wednesday Service

(readings, intercessory prayers and administering of

ashes) at 12:15pm and 7:00pm in Hoisington and at 7:00pm in Ol-

mitz. Thanks to Fr. John Strasser who will fill in on February 20th

and 21st.

STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE FOR

FEB. 14th: In today’s 2nd reading, St.

Paul urges the Corinthians to “do all for the

glory of God.” If we follow that advise in

everything we do, we cannot help but be

good stewards!

OLD PALMS: There are

boxes in the back of our church-

es for you to put your old palms

in (by Sunday, Feb. 14th) so

they can be burned for ashes for

Ash Wed. which is Feb. 17th.

FISH FRY DATES: The Hoisington K-of-C will hold

their Fish Fry Dinners 5:30—7:00pm on Friday, Feb. 26th,

March 12th and March 26th. Dine in

or curbside will be available. Cost

will be $12.50 for adults, $7.50 for

ages 4-11 and under 4 eat for free.

VALENTINE DINNER:

The Hoisington Knights

Valentine Dinner has

been cancelled due

to the extreme cold.

MINISTERS-ASH WEDNESDAY, at 7:00pm:

Usher: Tom Polzin

Lectors: Teri Doze and

Wally Schneweis

12:15pm Service… Distribute Ashes: Duane Koester

Lector: Faye Doonan

Ushers: Eldon Reif Lectors: Diana Zecha & Kathy Hoffman

LENTEN PRACTICES:

FASTING: Catholics between

18 & 60 are obliged to fast on Ash

Wednesday & Good Friday (one

main meal and two smaller meals,

nothing in between).

ABSTINENCE: Catholics 14

and older must abstain from meat

on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday

& the Fridays of Lent.

Pick up a RICE BOWL in the

vestibule.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE:

Monday, Feb. 22nd at the Hoisington

K-of-C Hall, 12:30—6:30pm.

Distribute Ashes:

Paul & Brenda Axman

A PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY (Composed by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

Heavenly Father, You have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace & joy reign.

May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy.

Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.

May the Eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.

May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our

sins. Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us. Amen!

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS is offering free professional counseling in Dodge

City, Garden City and Great Bend for adults, children, couples, families and seniors, regardless of race, religion, or

socioeconomic status. Contact Amy Falcon at 620-227-1590 or email my at: afalcon@CatholicCharitiesSWKS.org

FREE PREGNANCY SUPPORT: Catholic Charities offers free pregnancy support services for all women regard-

less of age, income, marital status or religious affiliation. There are no fees for this service. If you know someone who

is facing an unintended pregnancy, please ask them to contact Amy Falcon at 620-227-1590.

HEARING ASSISTANCE: The Starkey Hearing Foundation provides hearing aid assistance for those with finan-

cial need. There is an application processing fee of $125.00 per hearing aid request; contact Hear Now to discuss eligi-

bility before completing an application. For assistance: 800-328-8602, or go to Hearnow@starkey.com When the ap-

plication is approved, aids are given to the applicant at no additional cost.

SHARE WITH US! If you’ve had a new baby or are celebrating a wedding or anniversary and would like it an-

nounced in the bulletin, call the information in to the Parish Office at 653-2963 or email us at: stjohnevange-

list122@gmail.com

PRAYER FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: O God, our creator, from Your provident hand we have received our

right to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as Your people & given us the right & the duty to

worship You, the only true God, and Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power & working of Your Holy Spirit, You

call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light & the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner

of society. We ask You to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind &

heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of

the rights of Your Church & the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a

clear and united voice to all your sons & daughters gathered in Your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our

nation, so that, with every trial withstood & every danger overcome—for the sake of our children, our grandchildren &

all who come after us—this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for

all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

YOU CAN SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY: Any woman who is pregnant & in need

can turn for help to the pro-life movement. She never has to feel that abortion is the only option.

People anywhere in the country can find assistance at the following numbers:

Carenet/Heartbeat 1-800-395-HELP

Crisis PG Helpline 1-888-4-OPTIONS

Birthright—1-800-550-4900

National Life Center—1-800-848-LOVE

Bethany Christian Services—1-800-238-4269

LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS: Life skills are positive & adaptive behaviors that make it possible for individuals to

deal effectively with the demands & challenges of life. Catholic Charities offers several life skills classes on topics such as:

tenant regulations, healthy relationships, health & wellness, time management, home maintenance and safety, and essential

food, nutrition and physical activity. For a current schedule of classes visit: http://catholiccharitiesswks.org/services/

healthy-relationships

PRAYER FOR THE MILITARY: Lord Jesus Christ, please hold our troops in Your loving arms. Protect them

as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts that they perform for us in our time of need.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES: No one needs to go through life’s most difficult challenges alone. Catholic Charities

of Southwest KS is offering free professional counseling services in Dodge City, Garden City, and Great Bend for adults,

children, couples, families & seniors, regardless of race, religious or socioeconomic status. Contact Amy Falcon at 620-227

-1590 or go to afalcon@CatholicCharitiesSWKS.org for more information and/or to schedule an appointment.

WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE ONLY WAY TO END IT.

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Traffficking. (www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org) USCSAHT is a 501© 3

organization. 2039 N Geyer Road, St. Louis, MO 63l3l

CATHOLIC CHARITIES: If you know of individuals and families who are struggling as a result of COVID-19, please ask them to call Catholic Charities. Our case managers will assess their situation and provide assistance as needed. Counsel-ing sessions are continuing via Telehealth. For all other inquiries for immigration matters, economic assistance or other-wise, please refer to our contact page for all staff phone numbers and email addresses. If no one answers, PLEASE leave a message; we are available and we will return your call as soon as possible. We are here to help: https://www.catholiccharitiesswks.org/contact-us To help us continue to provide support for those who are struggling as a result of COVID-19, please support the Catholic Charities Pandemic Appeal Fund at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/2020-pandemic-relief-fund. Catholic Charities staff members continue to work and provide assistance from home, and the offices will remained closed until the daily new COVID-19 cases begin to drop. Phone and email are the best way to reach anyone at Catholic Charities. Visit our contact list at https://catholiccharitiesswks.org/ or call Great Bend 620-792-1393

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God’s law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

All Kansas Diocese have been asked by our State's Bishops, includ-ing Bishop Brungardt, to join the Kansas Rosary Crusade. Each Thursday, we are asked to pray the Rosary for the passage of pro-life legislation here in Kansas. Thursday is the day when we normally pray the Luminous Myster-ies, however the Kansas Rosary Crusade offers the "Mysteries of Life in the Womb" for your Thursday Rosary. You can log on to: https://kansasrosarycrusade.org/ to get all of the information.

It was decided to move our Sunday Rosary Devotion (via Zoom Meeting) to Thursday's at 8pm in order to participate in this crusade. As usual, you will receive a Zoom Meeting invitation sometime on Thursday and partici-pants can click on the meeting link to join at 8:00 pm. If you have any ques-tions or problems signing on, please don't hesitate to contact Tom or Lisa Ridder at 620-874-0447 or 620-874-8599.

Everyone is encouraged to register your individual name or family name and

commit to this devotion even if you can't join on Thursdays via Zoom Meet-

ing.